AILEEN TENNANT

Regional Representative: Europe & Middle East

Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland

Director

Aileen is an accomplished professional educator with 20 years’ experience in teaching, curriculum development at both school and national level, and in creating effective and award-winning learning programmes. She holds a B.Sc. in Science Education and spent a decade working as a secondary school science teacher. During her teaching career she secured funding to lead the Climate Justice Schools Programme which fostered collaborative environmental learning between secondary schools in Ireland and high schools in Arusha and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. 

From 2015 until 2024, Aileen worked as Head of Discovery & Learning at Dublin Zoo, Ireland where she developed the conservation education team, physical learning infrastructure and a comprehensive conservation learning programme. She also served as a part-time lecturer in Science Education in Dublin City University supporting trainee primary school teachers to deliver science and climate change education in their classrooms.

Aileen is passionate about empowering people to learn about wildlife conservation and particularly enjoys engaging with people to understand how they can make informed choices that positively impact wildlife and the planet. Aileen also sits on the EAZA Conservation Education Committee.

In July 2024, Aileen was appointed as Director of Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, Ireland where she continues to be committed to conservation via education and public engagement.

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1st Term: October 2023 – October 2025